Onthisaccounttheirregularitiesofthepathwerenotvisible，andWildeveoccasionallystumbled；whilstEustaciafounditnecessarytoperformsomegracefulfeatsofbalancingwheneverasmalltuftofheatherorrootoffurzeprotrudeditselfthroughthegrassofthenarrowtrackandentangledherfeet。Atthesejuncturesinherprogressahandwasinvariablystretchedforwardtosteadyher，holdingherfirmlyuntilsmoothgroundwasagainreached，whenthehandwasagainwithdrawntoarespectfuldistance。
Theyperformedthejourneyforthemostpartinsilence，anddrewneartoThroopeCorner，afewhundredyardsfromwhichashortpathbranchedawaytoEustacia’shouse。
Bydegreestheydiscernedcomingtowardsthemapairofhumanfigures，apparentlyofthemalesex。
WhentheycamealittlenearerEustaciabrokethesilencebysaying，"Oneofthosemenismyhusband。Hepromisedtocometomeetme。"
"Andtheotherismygreatestenemy，"saidWildeve。
"ItlookslikeDiggoryVenn。"
"Thatistheman。"
"Itisanawkwardmeeting，"saidshe；"butsuchismyfortune。
Heknowstoomuchaboutme，unlesshecouldknowmore，andsoprovetohimselfthatwhathenowknowscountsfornothing。Well，letitbe——youmustdelivermeuptothem。"
"Youwillthinktwicebeforeyoudirectmetodothat。
HereisamanwhohasnotforgottenaniteminourmeetingsatRainbarrow——heisincompanywithyourhusband。
Whichofthem，seeingustogetherhere，willbelievethatourmeetinganddancingatthegipsypartywasbychance？"
"Verywell，"shewhisperedgloomily。"Leavemebeforetheycomeup。"
Wildevebadeheratenderfarewell，andplungedacrossthefernandfurze，Eustaciaslowlywalkingon。Intwoorthreeminutesshemetherhusbandandhiscompanion。
"Myjourneyendsherefortonight，reddleman，"saidYeobrightassoonasheperceivedher。"Iturnbackwiththislady。
Goodnight。"
"Goodnight，Mr。Yeobright，"saidVenn。"Ihopetoseeyoubettersoon。"
ThemoonlightshonedirectlyuponVenn’sfaceashespoke，andrevealedallitslinestoEustacia。Hewaslookingsuspiciouslyather。ThatVenn’skeeneyehaddiscernedwhatYeobright’sfeeblevisionhadnot——amanintheactofwithdrawingfromEustacia’sside——waswithinthelimitsoftheprobable。
IfEustaciahadbeenabletofollowthereddlemanshewouldsoonhavefoundstrikingconfirmationofherthought。
NosoonerhadClymgivenherhisarmandledheroffthescenethanthereddlemanturnedbackfromthebeatentracktowardsEastEgdon，whitherhehadbeenstrollingmerelytoaccompanyClyminhiswalk，Diggory’svanbeingagainintheneighbourhood。Stretchingouthislonglegs，hecrossedthepathlessportionoftheheathsomewhatinthedirectionwhichWildevehadtaken。
OnlyamanaccustomedtonocturnalramblescouldatthishourhavedescendedthoseshaggyslopeswithVenn’svelocitywithoutfallingheadlongintoapit，orsnappingoffhislegbyjamminghisfootintosomerabbitburrow。
ButVennwentonwithoutmuchinconveniencetohimself，andthecourseofhisscamperwastowardstheQuietWomanInn。Thisplacehereachedinabouthalfanhour，andhewaswellawarethatnopersonwhohadbeennearThroopeCornerwhenhestartedcouldhavegotdownherebeforehim。
Thelonelyinnwasnotyetclosed，thoughscarcelyanindividualwasthere，thebusinessdonebeingchieflywithtravellerswhopassedtheinnonlongjourneys，andthesehadnowgoneontheirway。Vennwenttothepublicroom，calledforamugofale，andinquiredofthemaidinanindifferenttoneifMr。Wildevewasathome。
ThomasinsatinaninnerroomandheardVenn’svoice。
Whencustomerswerepresentsheseldomshowedherself，owingtoherinherentdislikeforthebusiness；
butperceivingthatnooneelsewastheretonightshecameout。
"Heisnotathomeyet，Diggory，"shesaidpleasantly。
"ButIexpectedhimsooner。HehasbeentoEastEgdontobuyahorse。"
"Didhewearalightwideawake？"
"Yes。"
"ThenIsawhimatThroopeCorner，leadingonehome，"
saidVenndrily。"Abeauty，withawhitefaceandamaneasblackasnight。Hewillsoonbehere，nodoubt。"
Risingandlookingforamomentatthepure，sweetfaceofThomasin，overwhichashadowofsadnesshadpassedsincethetimewhenhehadlastseenher，heventuredtoadd，"Mr。Wildeveseemstobeoftenawayatthistime。"
"Oyes，"criedThomasininwhatwasintendedtobeatoneofgaiety。"Husbandswillplaythetruant，youknow。
Iwishyoucouldtellmeofsomesecretplanthatwouldhelpmetokeephimhomeatmywillintheevenings。"
"IwillconsiderifIknowofone，"repliedVenninthatsamelighttonewhichmeantnolightness。Andthenhebowedinamannerofhisowninventionandmovedtogo。
Thomasinofferedhimherhand；andwithoutasigh，thoughwithfoodformany，thereddlemanwentout。
WhenWildevereturned，aquarterofanhourlaterThomasinsaidsimply，andintheabashedmannerusualwithhernow，"Whereisthehorse，Damon？"
"O，Ihavenotboughtit，afterall。Themanaskstoomuch。"
"ButsomebodysawyouatThroopeCornerleadingithome——abeauty，withawhitefaceandamaneasblackasnight。"
"Ah！"saidWildeve，fixinghiseyesuponher；"whotoldyouthat？"
"Vennthereddleman。"
TheexpressionofWildeve’sfacebecamecuriouslycondensed。
"Thatisamistake——itmusthavebeensomeoneelse，"
hesaidslowlyandtestily，forheperceivedthatVenn’scountermoveshadbegunagain。
4—RoughCoercionIsEmployedThosewordsofThomasin，whichseemedsolittle，butmeantsomuch，remainedintheearsofDiggoryVenn："Helpmetokeephimhomeintheevenings。"
OnthisoccasionVennhadarrivedonEgdonHeathonlytocrosstotheotherside——hehadnofurtherconnectionwiththeinterestsoftheYeobrightfamily，andhehadabusinessofhisowntoattendto。YethesuddenlybegantofeelhimselfdriftingintotheoldtrackofmanoeuvringonThomasin’saccount。
Hesatinhisvanandconsidered。FromThomasin’swordsandmannerhehadplainlygatheredthatWildeveneglectedher。
ForwhomcouldheneglectherifnotforEustacia？YetitwasscarcelycrediblethatthingshadcometosuchaheadastoindicatethatEustaciasystematicallyencouragedhim。
VennresolvedtoreconnoitresomewhatcarefullythelonelyroadwhichledalongthevalefromWildeve’sdwellingtoClym’shouseatAlderworth。
Atthistime，ashasbeenseen，Wildevewasquiteinnocentofanypredeterminedactofintrigue，andexceptatthedanceonthegreenhehadnotoncemetEustaciasincehermarriage。Butthatthespiritofintriguewasinhimhadbeenshownbyarecentromantichabitofhis——ahabitofgoingoutafterdarkandstrollingtowardsAlderworth，therelookingatthemoonandstars，lookingatEustacia’shouse，andwalkingbackatleisure。
Accordingly，whenwatchingonthenightafterthefestival，thereddlemansawhimascendbythelittlepath，leanoverthefrontgateofClym’sgarden，sigh，andturntogobackagain。ItwasplainthatWildeve’sintriguewasratheridealthanreal。Vennretreatedbeforehimdownthehilltoaplacewherethepathwasmerelyadeepgroovebetweentheheather；herehemysteriouslybentoverthegroundforafewminutes，andretired。
WhenWildevecameontothatspothisanklewascaughtbysomething，andhefellheadlong。
Assoonashehadrecoveredthepowerofrespirationhesatupandlistened。Therewasnotasoundinthegloombeyondthespiritlessstirofthesummerwind。
Feelingaboutfortheobstaclewhichhadflunghimdown，hediscoveredthattwotuftsofheathhadbeentiedtogetheracrossthepath，formingaloop，whichtoatravellerwascertainoverthrow。Wildevepulledoffthestringthatboundthem，andwentonwithtolerablequickness。
Onreachinghomehefoundthecordtobeofareddishcolour。
Itwasjustwhathehadexpected。
Althoughhisweaknesseswerenotspeciallythoseakintophysicalfear，thisspeciesofcoup—de—JarnacfromoneheknewtoowelltroubledthemindofWildeve。
Buthismovementswereunalteredthereby。AnightortwolaterheagainwentalongthevaletoAlderworth，takingtheprecautionofkeepingoutofanypath。
Thesensethathewaswatched，thatcraftwasemployedtocircumventhiserranttastes，addedpiquancytoajourneysoentirelysentimental，solongasthedangerwasofnofearfulsort。HeimaginedthatVennandMrs。Yeobrightwereinleague，andfeltthattherewasacertainlegitimacyincombatingsuchacoalition。
Theheathtonightappearedtobetotallydeserted；
andWildeve，afterlookingoverEustacia’sgardengateforsomelittletime，withacigarinhismouth，wastemptedbythefascinationthatemotionalsmugglinghadforhisnaturetoadvancetowardsthewindow，whichwasnotquiteclosed，theblindbeingonlypartlydrawndown。Hecouldseeintotheroom，andEustaciawassittingtherealone。
Wildevecontemplatedherforaminute，andthenretreatingintotheheathbeatthefernslightly，whereuponmothsflewoutalarmed。Securingone，hereturnedtothewindow，andholdingthemothtothechink，openedhishand。
ThemothmadetowardsthecandleuponEustacia’stable，hoveredroundittwoorthreetimes，andflewintotheflame。
Eustaciastartedup。Thishadbeenawell—knownsignalinoldtimeswhenWildevehadusedtocomesecretlywooingtoMistover。SheatonceknewthatWildevewasoutside，butbeforeshecouldconsiderwhattodoherhusbandcameinfromupstairs。Eustacia’sfaceburntcrimsonattheunexpectedcollisionofincidents，andfilleditwithananimationthatittoofrequentlylacked。
"Youhaveaveryhighcolour，dearest，"saidYeobright，whenhecamecloseenoughtoseeit。"Yourappearancewouldbenoworseifitwerealwaysso。"
"Iamwarm，"saidEustacia。"IthinkIwillgointotheairforafewminutes。"
"ShallIgowithyou？"
"Ono。Iamonlygoingtothegate。"
Shearose，butbeforeshehadtimetogetoutoftheroomaloudrappingbeganuponthefrontdoor。
"I’llgo——I’llgo，"saidEustaciainanunusuallyquicktoneforher；andsheglancedeagerlytowardsthewindowwhencethemothhadflown；butnothingappearedthere。
"Youhadbetternotatthistimeoftheevening，"
hesaid。Clymsteppedbeforeherintothepassage，andEustaciawaited，hersomnolentmannercoveringherinnerheatandagitation。
Shelistened，andClymopenedthedoor。Nowordswereutteredoutside，andpresentlyhecloseditandcameback，saying，"Nobodywasthere。Iwonderwhatthatcouldhavemeant？"
Hewaslefttowonderduringtherestoftheevening，fornoexplanationoffereditself，andEustaciasaidnothing，theadditionalfactthatsheknewofonlyaddingmoremysterytotheperformance。
MeanwhilealittledramahadbeenactedoutsidewhichsavedEustaciafromallpossibilityofcompromisingherselfthateveningatleast。WhilstWildevehadbeenpreparinghismoth—signalanotherpersonhadcomebehindhimuptothegate。Thisman，whocarriedaguninhishand，lookedonforamomentattheother’soperationbythewindow，walkeduptothehouse，knockedatthedoor，andthenvanishedroundthecornerandoverthehedge。
"Damnhim！"saidWildeve。"Hehasbeenwatchingmeagain。"
AshissignalhadbeenrenderedfutilebythisuproariousrappingWildevewithdrew，passedoutatthegate，andwalkedquicklydownthepathwithoutthinkingofanythingexceptgettingawayunnoticed。Halfwaydownthehillthepathrannearaknotofstuntedhollies，whichinthegeneraldarknessofthescenestoodasthepupilinablackeye。
WhenWildevereachedthispointareportstartledhisear，andafewspentgunshotsfellamongtheleavesaroundhim。
Therewasnodoubtthathehimselfwasthecauseofthatgun’sdischarge；andherushedintotheclumpofhollies，beatingthebushesfuriouslywithhisstick；butnobodywasthere。Thisattackwasamoreseriousmatterthanthelast，anditwassometimebeforeWildeverecoveredhisequanimity。Anewandmostunpleasantsystemofmenacehadbegun，andtheintentappearedtobetodohimgrievousbodilyharm。WildevehadlookeduponVenn’sfirstattemptasaspeciesofhorseplay，whichthereddlemanhadindulgedinforwantofknowingbetter；butnowtheboundarylinewaspassedwhichdividestheannoyingfromtheperilous。
HadWildeveknownhowthoroughlyinearnestVennhadbecomehemighthavebeenstillmorealarmed。
ThereddlemanhadbeenalmostexasperatedbythesightofWildeveoutsideClym’shouse，andhewaspreparedtogotoanylengthsshortofabsolutelyshootinghim，toterrifytheyounginnkeeperoutofhisrecalcitrantimpulses。
ThedoubtfullegitimacyofsuchroughcoerciondidnotdisturbthemindofVenn。Ittroublesfewsuchmindsinsuchcases，andsometimesthisisnottoberegretted。
FromtheimpeachmentofStraffordtoFarmerLynch’sshortwaywiththescampsofVirginiatherehavebeenmanytriumphsofjusticewhicharemockeriesoflaw。
AbouthalfamilebelowClym’ssecludeddwellinglayahamletwherelivedoneofthetwoconstableswhopreservedthepeaceintheparishofAlderworth，andWildevewentstraighttotheconstable’scottage。
Almostthefirstthingthathesawonopeningthedoorwastheconstable’struncheonhangingtoanail，asiftoassurehimthatherewerethemeanstohispurpose。
Oninquiry，however，oftheconstable’swifehelearntthattheconstablewasnotathome。Wildevesaidhewouldwait。
Theminutestickedon，andtheconstabledidnotarrive。
Wildevecooleddownfromhisstateofhighindignationtoarestlessdissatisfactionwithhimself，thescene，theconstable’swife，andthewholesetofcircumstances。
Hearoseandleftthehouse。Altogether，theexperienceofthateveninghadhadacooling，nottosayachilling，effectonmisdirectedtenderness，andWildevewasinnomoodtorambleagaintoAlderworthafternightfallinhopeofastrayglancefromEustacia。
ThusfarthereddlemanhadbeentolerablysuccessfulinhisrudecontrivancesforkeepingdownWildeve’sinclinationtoroveintheevening。HehadnippedinthebudthepossiblemeetingbetweenEustaciaandheroldloverthisverynight。ButhehadnotanticipatedthatthetendencyofhisactionwouldbetodivertWildeve’smovementratherthantostopit。ThegamblingwiththeguineashadnotconducedtomakehimawelcomeguesttoClym；
buttocalluponhiswife’srelativewasnatural，andhewasdeterminedtoseeEustacia。Itwasnecessarytochoosesomelessuntowardhourthanteno’clockatnight。
"Sinceitisunsafetogointheevening，"hesaid，"I’llgobyday。"
MeanwhileVennhadlefttheheathandgonetocalluponMrs。Yeobright，withwhomhehadbeenonfriendlytermssinceshehadlearntwhataprovidentialcountermovehehadmadetowardstherestitutionofthefamilyguineas。
Shewonderedatthelatenessofhiscall，buthadnoobjectiontoseehim。
HegaveherafullaccountofClym’saffliction，andofthestateinwhichhewasliving；then，referringtoThomasin，touchedgentlyupontheapparentsadnessofherdays。
"Now，ma’am，dependuponit，"hesaid，"youcouldn’tdoabetterthingforeitherof’emthantomakeyourselfathomeintheirhouses，evenifthereshouldbealittlerebuffatfirst。"
"Bothsheandmysondisobeyedmeinmarrying；
thereforeIhavenointerestintheirhouseholds。
Theirtroublesareoftheirownmaking。"Mrs。Yeobrighttriedtospeakseverely；buttheaccountofherson’sstatehadmovedhermorethanshecaredtoshow。
"YourvisitswouldmakeWildevewalkstraighterthanheisinclinedtodo，andmightpreventunhappinessdowntheheath。"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"IsawsomethingtonightouttherewhichIdidn’tlikeatall。
Iwishyourson’shouseandMr。Wildeve’swereahundredmilesapartinsteadoffourorfive。"
"ThenthereWASanunderstandingbetweenhimandClym’swifewhenhemadeafoolofThomasin！"
"We’llhopethere’snounderstandingnow。"
"Andourhopewillprobablybeveryvain。OClym！
OThomasin！"
"There’snoharmdoneyet。Infact，I’vepersuadedWildevetomindhisownbusiness。"
"How？"
"O，notbytalking——byaplanofminecalledthesilentsystem。"
"Ihopeyou’llsucceed。"
"Ishallifyouhelpmebycallingandmakingfriendswithyourson。You’llhaveachancethenofusingyoureyes。"
"Well，sinceithascometothis，"saidMrs。Yeobrightsadly，"Iwillowntoyou，reddleman，thatIthoughtofgoing。
Ishouldbemuchhappierifwewerereconciled。
Themarriageisunalterable，mylifemaybecutshort，andIshouldwishtodieinpeace。Heismyonlyson；
andsincesonsaremadeofsuchstuffIamnotsorryIhavenoother。AsforThomasin，Ineverexpectedmuchfromher；andshehasnotdisappointedme。
ButIforgaveherlongago；andIforgivehimnow。
I’llgo。"
Atthisverytimeofthereddleman’sconversationwithMrs。YeobrightatBlooms—EndanotherconversationonthesamesubjectwaslanguidlyproceedingatAlderworth。
AllthedayClymhadbornehimselfasifhismindweretoofullofitsownmattertoallowhimtocareaboutoutwardthings，andhiswordsnowshowedwhathadoccupiedhisthoughts。
Itwasjustafterthemysteriousknockingthathebeganthetheme。"SinceIhavebeenawaytoday，Eustacia，Ihaveconsideredthatsomethingmustbedonetohealupthisghastlybreachbetweenmydearmotherandmyself。
Ittroublesme。"
"Whatdoyouproposetodo？"saidEustaciaabstractedly，forshecouldnotclearawayfromhertheexcitementcausedbyWildeve’srecentmanoeuvreforaninterview。
"YouseemtotakeaverymildinterestinwhatIpropose，littleormuch，"saidClym，withtolerablewarmth。
"Youmistakeme，"sheanswered，revivingathisreproach。
"Iamonlythinking。"
"Whatof？"
"Partlyofthatmothwhoseskeletonisgettingburntupinthewickofthecandle，"shesaidslowly。"ButyouknowIalwaystakeaninterestinwhatyousay。"
"Verywell，dear。ThenIthinkImustgoandcalluponher。"……Hewentonwithtenderfeeling："ItisathingIamnotatalltooproudtodo，andonlyafearthatImightirritateherhaskeptmeawaysolong。
ButImustdosomething。Itiswronginmetoallowthissortofthingtogoon。"
"Whathaveyoutoblameyourselfabout？"
"Sheisgettingold，andherlifeislonely，andIamheronlyson。"
"ShehasThomasin。"
"Thomasinisnotherdaughter；andifshewerethatwouldnotexcuseme。Butthisisbesidethepoint。
Ihavemadeupmymindtogotoher，andallIwishtoaskyouiswhetheryouwilldoyourbesttohelpme——thatis，forgetthepast；andifsheshowsherwillingnesstobereconciled，meetherhalfwaybywelcominghertoourhouse，orbyacceptingawelcometohers？"
AtfirstEustaciaclosedherlipsasifshewouldratherdoanythingonthewholeglobethanwhathesuggested。
Butthelinesofhermouthsoftenedwiththought，thoughnotsofarastheymighthavesoftened，andshesaid，"Iwillputnothinginyourway；butafterwhathaspassedit，isaskingtoomuchthatIgoandmakeadvances。"
"Youneverdistinctlytoldmewhatdidpassbetweenyou。"
"Icouldnotdoitthen，norcanInow。Sometimesmorebitternessissowninfiveminutesthancanbegotridofinawholelife；andthatmaybethecasehere。"
Shepausedafewmoments，andadded，"Ifyouhadneverreturnedtoyournativeplace，Clym，whatablessingitwouldhavebeenforyou！……Ithasalteredthedestiniesof————"
"Threepeople。"
"Five，"Eustaciathought；butshekeptthatin。
5—TheJourneyacrosstheHeathThursday，thethirty—firstofAugust，wasoneofaseriesofdaysduringwhichsnughouseswerestifling，andwhencooldraughtsweretreats；whencracksappearedinclayeygardens，andwerecalled"earthquakes"byapprehensivechildren；
whenloosespokeswerediscoveredinthewheelsofcartsandcarriages；andwhenstinginginsectshauntedtheair，theearth，andeverydropofwaterthatwastobefound。
InMrs。Yeobright’sgardenlarge—leavedplantsofatenderkindflaggedbyteno’clockinthemorning；
rhubarbbentdownwardateleven；andevenstiffcabbageswerelimpbynoon。
Itwasabouteleveno’clockonthisdaythatMrs。Yeobrightstartedacrosstheheathtowardsherson’shouse，todoherbestingettingreconciledwithhimandEustacia，inconformitywithherwordstothereddleman。
Shehadhopedtobewelladvancedinherwalkbeforetheheatofthedaywasatitshighest，butaftersettingoutshefoundthatthiswasnottobedone。
Thesunhadbrandedthewholeheathwithitsmark，eventhepurpleheath—flowershavingputonabrownnessunderthedryblazesofthefewprecedingdays。
Everyvalleywasfilledwithairlikethatofakiln，andthecleanquartzsandofthewinterwater—courses，whichformedsummerpaths，hadundergoneaspeciesofincinerationsincethedroughthadsetin。
Incool，freshweatherMrs。YeobrightwouldhavefoundnoinconvenienceinwalkingtoAlderworth，butthepresenttorridattackmadethejourneyaheavyundertakingforawomanpastmiddleage；andattheendofthethirdmileshewishedthatshehadhiredFairwaytodriveheraportionatleastofthedistance。ButfromthepointatwhichshehadarriveditwasaseasytoreachClym’shouseastogethomeagain。Soshewenton，theairaroundherpulsatingsilently，andoppressingtheearthwithlassitude。Shelookedattheskyoverhead，andsawthatthesapphirinehueofthezenithinspringandearlysummerhadbeenreplacedbyametallicviolet。
Occasionallyshecametoaspotwhereindependentworldsofephemeronswerepassingtheirtimeinmadcarousal，someintheair，someonthehotgroundandvegetation，someinthetepidandstringywaterofanearlydriedpool。
Alltheshallowerpondshaddecreasedtoavaporousmudamidwhichthemaggotyshapesofinnumerableobscurecreaturescouldbeindistinctlyseen，heavingandwallowingwithenjoyment。Beingawomannotdisinclinedtophilosophizeshesometimessatdownunderherumbrellatorestandtowatchtheirhappiness，foracertainhopefulnessastotheresultofhervisitgaveeasetohermind，andbetweenimportantthoughtsleftitfreetodwellonanyinfinitesimalmatterwhichcaughthereyes。
Mrs。Yeobrighthadneverbeforebeentoherson’shouse，anditsexactpositionwasunknowntoher。Shetriedoneascendingpathandanother，andfoundthattheyledherastray。
Retracinghersteps，shecameagaintoanopenlevel，wheresheperceivedatadistanceamanatwork。
Shewenttowardshimandinquiredtheway。
Thelabourerpointedoutthedirection，andadded，"Doyouseethatfurze—cutter，ma’am，goingupthatfootpathyond？"
Mrs。Yeobrightstrainedhereyes，andatlastsaidthatshedidperceivehim。
"Well，ifyoufollowhimyoucanmakenomistake。
He’sgoingtothesameplace，ma’am。"
Shefollowedthefigureindicated。Heappearedofarussethue，notmoredistinguishablefromthescenearoundhimthanthegreencaterpillarfromtheleafitfeedson。